Engine



April 18, 1933. L KEMP'THORNE 1,904,373

ENGINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 20, 1930 ,J INVENTOR :6 X/ BY 7 ATTORN April 1933' J. KEMPTHORNE ENGINE Original Fil ed Aug. 20, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR Y April 18, 1933- J. KEMPTHORNE ENGINE Originai Filed Aug. 20, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENJ'OR 5w BY l 1933- J. L. KEMPTHORNE ENGINE Original Filed Aug. 20, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 lNV NTOR BY TTORY April 18, 1933. J. L. KEMPTHORNE 1,904,373 4 ENGINE Original Filed Aug. 20, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z INX%NT3R I s BY kno Rm-y Patented Apr. 18, 1933 JAMES I1. KEMIPTHORNE, F MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY Enema Application filed August 20, 1980, Serial No. 476,492. Renewed August 26, 1932.

This invention relates to an improved mechanism which embodies a mechanical movement which is adapted for successful operation, as a pump, as a compressor, as a steam engine, as an internal combustion engine, as a meter and as other mechanisms requiring the compression or ejection of fluids. lhe object of the invention is to provide a wobble-plate construction to operate economically, to supply poweri-n excess of prior engines of larger size, to permit the building of the engine at less cost than in former engines, to lessen greatly the number of parts and to allow an easy dismantling for repair. While the use of the device in some cases requires the use of additional features, such as poppet valves in internal combustion engines or slide or disc valves in steam engines, or other accessories, the invention itself requires the same basic construction, i. e., a wobble-plate revolving in an opening which is divided into chambers by elements which conform to the movement of the wobble-plate by contact therewith and require no other operating means. The wobble-plate, in pumps and the like also serves to shut oif the inlet and outlet passages at the proper times.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel is a side 30 view partly in section of my invention as embodied in a pump. Figure 2 is a top view with the upper section removed. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the moving parts of the pump assembled as a unit. Figure 4 is 3 a perspective view of the wobble-plate and sealing member. Figure 5 is a reduced cross section on line 5-5 in Figure 1 showing the inlet and outlet connections and showing the wobble-plate in elevation. Figure 6 is a 4 cross-section of a modified form and Figure 7 is a section of another modification. Figure 8 is a cross-section of an internal combustion p engine embodying my mvention. Figure 9 is a horizontal section'on Figure 8 and Figure 10 is an end view of Figure 8.

In this engine the wobble-plate is exerting on one face a compressing pressure and on the other face is maintaining a suction, this on one side of the partition or dividing elemen" s. The same is true on the other side of the partition as applied to the reverse faces of the plate as first described. The pressure and suction are therefore alternately exercised by the wobble-plate as it revolves with the shaft to which it is attached. C5

The first five figures are directed to illustrating the engine developed as a pump, as this showing is simple and will assist in a clear understanding of the invention, and as it does not necessitate the use of valves.

The casing is shown as made up of two halves 10 and 11 which are heldtogether by nuts 12 on studs easily taken apart.

13. This construction is The two halves are recessed and thus form an opening 14 which is preferably spherical. In this opening and engaging 1ts wall is a wobble-plate 15 on the shaft 16.

The shaft rotates in bearings 17 and passes through the opening 14 and the wobble-plate. The pulley 18 is secured to the m shaft for operating the pump.

In order to co-operate with the wobbleplate in its suction and expulsion strokes I arrange end sections 19 which are segments of and are arranged-to move from side a sphere to side. The two in aring 20 which sections 19 are supported oscillates in a recess 21 in the casing. The screws 22 can be used to secure the end pieces to the ring. The space between the oscillating end pieces 19 and the w wobble-plate is filled by a sealing member 23 which has a slot 24 15 rotates and slides.

in which the wobble-plate The sealing piece has its ends 25 rounded to fit the opening 14: and form continuous surfaces with the outside 8 of the end pieces 19. is arranged to rock-as it The sealing member is provided with the trunnions 26 seatedin bearings in the ring 20. This also insures the oscillation of the sealingcm'ember as it moves the ring 20 because the member is actuated by the wobblelate. shaft 16 and in its The wobble-{slate rotates with the rotation positively moves the sealing member to make it oscillate in conformity with the wobble-plate. The s'ealing member rocks while'it oscillates and as it bears directly on the ring 26 and also on the end pieces 19 20 by its end studs at its side faces, the ring and the end pieces oscillate.

It will be apparent that the wobble-plate thus causes the oscillation of the sealing member, the end pieces and the ring which supports them.

In the case of a pump the wobble-plate can be used for controlling the inlet and outlet ports. The pump that is illustrated has an inlet 27 at the upper half and an inlet 28 at the lower half. These are shown as supplied by a common pipe 29. The upper half has an outlet 30 and the lower half an outlet 31 both feeding a pipe 32.

In visualizing the operation of the pump it is necessary to recognize that the wobbleplate as it rotates passes from the position shown at a in Figure 1 to that at bin dotted outline but that the faces of Wobble-plate assume angular positions between the extremes of longitudinal movement. The faces are inclined relative to the ends of the engine except at the two limits of movement before mentioned at a and 6. Therefore one cham her will be gradually opening and other will be gradually closing. At the end of this stage the reverse takes place. The wobbleplate will thus close these inlet and outlet ports just before the completion of what may be termed a stroke but which is a half revolution of the wobble-plate. It is therefore possible with this mechanism to operate as a pump without valves other than the valve duty performed by the wobble-plate. This minimizes the resistance to free operation and reduces the back pressure to the smallest degree.

In some installations, as in pumps, compressors or steam engines, it is desirable to have a structure that will compound the compression or the motive power. This requires a chamber larger than the other. In compressors the smaller one is for higher pressure. In steam engines the smaller one also is for higher pressure.

In Figure 6 I show one chamber larger than the other and I extend the wobble-plate into the larger chamber by a plate or extension 33 which fits the upper chamber 34 and oscillates as the wobble-plate 15 rotates inside of it. The. wobble-plate fits the smaller chamber 35. Ball-bearings 36 or other antifriction construction can be employed to support the extension 33 on the wobble-plate and make its operation easy.

The end-pieces 19 are cut away the required distance to allow for the increased travel of the extension 33. The dotted pipe connections 37 represent the passage on the half the machine toward the observer. It will be evident from this construction that a compound engine is produced with the main parts operating as in Figures 1 to 5.

In Figure? I show a construction in which the shaft does not extend throu h the engine. This construction has a wo ble-plate 38 which fills one-half the chamber or opening opposite the end-pieces 19. The sealing member 23, the end-piece 19 and the ring 20 oscillate together and of course the sealing member rocks as the wobble-plate rotates. The rocking is on the end trunnions or studs 26 which fit into opposite sides of the ring 20. In this construction the plane of the face of the wobble-plate crosses the centre of the spherical opening.

In Figures 8, 9 and 10 I illustrate the engine as an internal combustion engine. In the construction I have shown inlet and outlet valves, spark plugs and other accessories which are employed in this type of engine.

The casing 39 is provided with the cooling chambers 30 and has the spherical opening 41 in which the wobble-plate 42 rotates. The wobble-plate is mounted to rotate with the shaft 43. The inlet valves 44 and the outlet valves 45 are operated from suitable timed cams 46. The details of the valve mechanism of the engine are not described as they are conventional. The opening 41 is divided into chambers by vanes 47 which oscillate in the recess 48 and are held in place, if necessary by springs 49 which connect them. The sealing mem ers 50 have rounded backs and rock in the half round grooves 51 in the vanes. This structure conforms to the movement of the wobble-plate by reason of the oscillation of the vanes 47. In this engine we have four chambers which act to compressand explode charges of fuel the same as a four stroke cycle engine. The end pieces 52 are secured in the casing. The spark plugs 53 serve to explode the fuel by means of a suitable ignition circuit and timing device which is not shown.

I claim 1. A machine of the kind described comprising a casing with a spherical opening therein, a wobble-plate in the opening, and elements, including end pieces opposite the wobble-plate, movable by the wobble-plate and conforming to its oscillation to form chambers for the intake and exhaust of fluids. 1

2. A machine of the kind described comprising a casing having a spherical opening therein, a wobblelate engaging the wall of the opening, a sea ing roll in which the plate can slide, and a ring arranged to oscillate in the casing and supporting the roll, and end pieces supported by the ring opposite the wobble-plate.

3. A machine of the kind described comprising a casing having a spherical opening therein, a shaft passing into the opening, a wobble-plate on the shaft and engaging the wall of the opening, a ring in the plane of the axis of the shaft and arranged to oscillate in the casing, and a sealing member carried by the ring and engaging the wobble-plate and end pieces opposite the wobble-plate oscillating with the rin 4. A machine ot the kind described comprising a casing with a spherical opening, a

wobble-plate fitting the opening, a sealing member enclosing the plate at the centre and having studs at the ends, a ring supporting the studs and arranged to oscillate in the casing and having end plates to co-operate with the wobble-plate for compression.

5. A machine of the kind described with a spherical opening, a wobble-plate in the opening, a sealing piece embraced in the wobbleplate, a support for the sealing piece and arranged to oscillate, end pieces to move with the support and co-operate with the wobbleplate for compression, and a shaft passing through the assembled elements and secured to the wobble-platel 6. A machine of the kind described comprising a casing with a spherical opening, a wobble-plate in the opening, end blocks in the opening, a sealing device engaging the end blocks and the Wobble-plate, and a support for the end blocks and the sealing device and arranged to oscillate under the influence of the wobble-plate.

7 A machine of the kind described comprising a casing having an opening with opposed walls that are segments of a sphere, a Wobble-plate rotating in contact with the walls, and a sealing means adjacent the centre of the opening and oscillated solely by the Wobble-plate and through which the wobble-plate rotates, the sealing means and the wobble-plate dividing the opening into four chambers.

8. A machine of the kind described comprising a casing having a chamber therein, a wobble-platerotating in the chamber, and end pieces in the chamber to co-operate with the wobble-plate for compression and means for mounting the said end pieces to allow them to oscillate and thus conform to the movement of the wobble-plate.

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature.

J AISLES L. KEMPTHORNE. 

